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Rooney Mara
Mara at the Paris premiere of The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo in 2012
Born
Patricia Rooney Mara

(1985-04-17) April 17, 1985 (age 39)[1]
Bedford, New York, United States
Other namesPatricia Mara, Tricia Mara
OccupationActress
Years active2005–present

Patricia Rooney Mara (born April 17, 1985)[1] is an Academy Award nominated American film and television actress. Mara made her acting debut in 2005 and has gone on to star in films including A Nightmare on Elm Street, the remake of the 1984 horror film, and The Social Network. Mara rose to prominence starring as Lisbeth Salander, the title character in the 2011 version of the film The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo, the first of three Sony Pictures films based on Stieg Larsson’s Millennium book series. For her performance in the film, she received critical acclaim and was nominated for an Academy Award for Best Actress and a Golden Globe Award for Best Actress in a Motion Picture – Drama.

Mara is also known for her charity work. She oversees the charity Uweza Foundation, which supports empowerment programs for children and families in the Kibera slum in Nairobi, Kenya, one of the largest slums in Africa. She is also the younger sister of actress Kate Mara.

Early life and family

Mara was born and raised in Bedford, New York, a town in Westchester County, north of New York City.[2] The daughter of Timothy Christopher Mara, the vice president of player evaluation for the New York Giants, and Kathleen McNulty (née Rooney), a part-time real estate agent,[3] she has two brothers, Daniel and Conor, and an older sister, Kate.[4]

Mara has Irish roots on both sides of her family. Her "Rooney" ancestors originate in Newry, County Down.[5] Through her maternal grandmother, she is also of Italian descent.[6][7] Her paternal grandfather, Wellington Mara, the long-time co-owner of the Giants, was succeeded in that position by her uncle, John Mara. Her maternal grandfather, Timothy James "Tim" Rooney, has run Yonkers Raceway in Yonkers, New York since 1972.[8][9] Mara is the great-granddaughter of both New York Giants founder Tim Mara and Pittsburgh Steelers founder Art Rooney, Sr.[10] Her great-uncle, Dan Rooney, is chairman of the Steelers, the United States Ambassador to Ireland, and the co-founder of The Ireland Funds charitable organization.

After graduating from Fox Lane High School in 2003,[11] she went to Ecuador, Peru, and Bolivia in South America for four months as part of the Traveling School, an open learning environment. She attended George Washington University for a year, and then transferred to New York University's Gallatin School of Individualized Study, where she studied psychology, international social policy, and nonprofits,[12][4] graduating in 2010.[13]

Mara was inspired to act by seeing musical theatre and classic movies, like Gone with the Wind (1939), Rebecca (1940), and Bringing Up Baby (1938), with her mother.[14] She also wanted to be like her sister, Kate Mara, a professional actress. Patricia resisted pursuing acting as a child, stating to The Journal News that "it never seemed that honorable to me, and I guess I was always afraid that I might fail."[2] Her first and only role in high school was Juliet in Romeo and Juliet, which she got after being signed up to audition by a friend.[15] Mara acted in a few student films while at NYU, and then began her career in acting,[2] first auditioning at the age of nineteen.[4]

Acting career

2005–2009

Mara first appeared as an extra in films which starred her sister, including a bit-part in the 2005 direct-to-video horror film Urban Legends: Bloody Mary. She found work in television, making her professional debut in a 2006 episode of the drama Law & Order: Special Victims Unit, as a girl who bullies overweight children.[16] She guest-starred on the legal drama Women's Murder Club in 2007, and played a drug addict in an episode of The Cleaner in 2008.[17] Mara appeared in the feature films Dream Boy and Friends (With Benefits) that year, and guest-starred as Megan for two episodes of NBC's ER in 2009.

Photo of Rooney Mara
Mara at the Hamptons International Film Festival, 2009

Mara landed her first lead role in Tanner Hall, a coming-of-age film which tells the story of four teenage girls set in a New England boarding school. She played Fernanda, who has an affair with a married family friend (Tom Everett Scott).[18] The feature was the debut of filmmakers Tatiana von Fürstenberg and Francesca Gregorini.[19] Tanner Hall debuted at the 2009 Toronto International Film Festival and had a limited theatrical release in September 2011.[20] Mara dropped her first name, Patricia, to be known professionally by her middle name after working on the project. "I never really liked my first name," Mara stated to Paper magazine. "I never felt like a Tricia. And Rooney is more memorable".[21] Her father and younger brother also go by their middle names.[22]

Mara's experience led to other film work. She appeared in the comedy Youth in Revolt in 2009, starring Michael Cera and directed by Miguel Arteta. Mara played Taggarty, the love interest of Cera’s best friend. Her character tries to sleep with 50 guys before she goes to college.[23] The film was based on the 1993 cult novel of the same name by C.D. Payne.[24] Mara had auditioned for the starring role, but was offered the smaller part when the lead went to Portia Doubleday.[25]

Mara appeared in the independent film Dare in 2009, starring Emmy Rossum. She played Courtney, a high school senior set on expanding her life experience.[26] Mara also filmed The Winning Season that year, starring Emma Roberts and Sam Rockwell, playing a high school basketball player in a story similar to The Bad News Bears.[27] Her character has an affair with a 40-something year old shoe salesman (Kevin Breznahan).[28] Dare and The Winning Season premiered at the 2009 Sundance Film Festival. Mara was included on Filmmaker magazine's list of "25 New Faces of Independent Film" that year.[14]

Mara starred in a remake of the 1984 horror film A Nightmare on Elm Street.[29] She played the protagonist Nancy Holbrook, a teenage girl who is eager to leave town after graduating from high school.[30] Mara began shooting the film in Chicago on May 5, 2009, directed by Samuel Bayer.[31] Mara told Filmmaker that she felt that her Nancy was "completely different from the original" and "the loneliest girl in the world".[14] Mara had signed on to continue her role if a sequel was made.[32] She stated to Vogue that she disliked the experience of making the film so much, that it made her question if she wanted to be an actress.[4] Mara appeared at the Hamptons International Film Festival in October 2009 as part of its Breakthrough Performers Program, where she was tutored by Sharon Stone.[33]

2010–present

Mara appeared in the 2010 film The Social Network by David Fincher, starring Jesse Eisenberg, Andrew Garfield, and Justin Timberlake.[34] Her character breaks up with Mark Zuckerberg, the founder of Facebook, which inspires him to start the social networking website.[21]

In August 2010, Mara was cast as the lead in a film adaptation of the Millennium book trilogy by Stieg Larsson. She played Lisbeth Salander, a damaged bisexual computer hacker who helps journalist Mikael Blomkvist (Daniel Craig) attempt to solve a series of murders.[35] Mara won the role over several other actresses, including Natalie Portman, Scarlett Johansson, and Carey Mulligan, after two and a half months of auditions and screen tests.[36][37] David Fincher directed the first film, based on the novel The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo, with Scott Rudin producing. The other books, The Girl Who Played with Fire, and The Girl Who Kicked the Hornets' Nest, will also be adapted, depending on box office performance.[38] Fincher initially did not picture her as the character but changed his mind when she auditioned.[39] He convinced executives at Columbia Pictures to cast her for the part.[40]

The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo began shooting in Sweden in September 2010.[41] Mara did not consider the film to be a remake, but another interpretation of the novel. "I plan on giving my interpretation of the character", she stated to Variety.[42] Mara's long brown hair was cut short and dyed black, in a style reminiscent of 1970s punk and 1980s goth fashions. She also had each of her ears pierced four times, and had her brow and right nipple pierced for the role. Her nose and lip piercings were fake. She kept the nipple piercing so that it would not need to be re-pierced for a sequel.[1] Mara's eyebrows were bleached, and she wore a temporary dragon tattoo.[37] She began preparing for the role by starting to skateboard and kickbox, and underwent dialect and computer training. She also visited Stockholm, the setting of the novel.[43] The film was released on December 20, 2011.[44] Mara received universal critical acclaim and was nominated for the Golden Globe Award for Best Performance by an Actress in a Motion Picture – Drama for her performance.[45] On January 24, 2012, Mara received her first Academy Award nomination in the category of Best Actress for this role.

In late 2011 it was revealed that Mara had joined the cast of Terrence Malick's latest film, Lawless alongside Ryan Gosling, Christian Bale, Natalie Portman, Cate Blanchett and Haley Bennett.[46] Listed as a musical drama that's scheduled to be released sometime in 2013, the plot line of the movie has largely been kept under wraps thus far. An official logline released by FilmNation in February 2012[47] described Malick's picture as a story of "two intersecting love triangles" and, "sexual obsession and betrayal set against the music scene in Austin, Texas."

Rooney Mara has also signed on to appear in Steven Soderbergh's 2013 film adaptation of A Bitter Pill. As the lead character of Emily Hawkins, she'll play "a woman who turns to prescription medication as a way of handling her anxiety concerning her husband's upcoming release from prison."[48] Co-starring alongside Mara in the crime drama/thriller are actors Jude Law, Channing Tatum, Catherine Zeta-Jones and Vinessa Shaw.

In late April of 2012 Rooney was named as the choice replacement for Carey Mulligan in Spike Jonze's upcoming film project. Variety reported[49] that the British actress had to drop out due to scheduling conflicts, and Rooney has apparently been selected to fill in alongside Amy Adams, Joaquin Phoenix and Samantha Morton. Though details of her role are unclear, Mara would be the final element needed for Jonze to wrap up the planning phase and start filming, according to Variety. The script, penned by Jonze himself, revolves around a man who falls in love with the voice of a computer.

Charity work

A photo of rooftops and streets in Kibera
Kibera is one of the largest slums in Africa

Mara founded the charity Faces of Kibera, which aimed to provide housing, food, and medical care for orphans in Kibera, a Nairobi, Kenya slum. The charity's goal was to build an orphanage in the region, for which 6 acres of land have been purchased.[2] The charity auctioned memorabilia from the Steelers and Giants, as well as training camp events on eBay to raise money.[10]

Mara visited the area as a volunteer in 2006 and was moved to help the orphans, many whose parents have died from AIDS and HIV-related illnesses. She began the charity due to her frustration with the growing number of nonprofits that are just business opportunities. "The people who need help aren’t really getting it. So I started my own", she told Interview magazine in 2009.[23] Mara was not really working yet when she started the charity, so later found it challenging to balance her charity work and acting career. "I need to do both; I can't just do acting,“ she stated to The Journal News.[2]

In January 2011, Faces of Kibera merged with Uweza Foundation which runs community-based empowerment programs in Kibera, including soccer leagues and after-school tutoring. Uweza is a Swahili word meaning opportunity, ability, and power.[50] Mara serves as the president of the board of directors for the foundation.[51]


Personal life

Mara moved to Los Angeles in early 2007, and lived with her sister temporarily.[52] Although they do not live together anymore, Mara felt that the experience brought them closer together, and they still regularly discuss the film business and movie scripts.[2] As of January 2012, Mara lives in the Los Feliz neighborhood of Los Angeles.[1] She described football as "....the glue that holds our family together," to the New York Post.[53] She includes Gena Rowlands among the actors who inspire her, especially her performances in A Woman Under the Influence (1974) and Opening Night (1977).[14]

NFL ties

Mara's family owns the New York Giants and the Pittsburgh Steelers.[citation needed]

Filmography

Year Title Role Notes
2005 Urban Legends: Bloody Mary Classroom Girl #1 Direct-to-video
2006 Law & Order: Special Victims Unit Jessica DeLay TV series, episode: "Fat"
Credited as Tricia Mara
2007 Women's Murder Club Alexis Sherman TV series, episode: "Blind Dates and Bleeding Hearts"
2008 Dream Boy Evelyn
2008 The Cleaner Rebecca Smith TV series, episode: "Rebecca"
2009 Dare Courtney
2009 The Winning Season Wendy
2009 ER Megan
2009 Friends (With Benefits) Tara
2009 Youth in Revolt Taggarty
2009 Tanner Hall Fernanda
2010 A Nightmare on Elm Street Nancy Holbrook
2010 The Social Network Erica Albright Hollywood Film Award for Ensemble of the Year
Palm Springs International Film Festival Award for Ensemble Performance
Nominated — Broadcast Film Critics Association Award for Best Acting Ensemble
Nominated — Washington DC Area Film Critics Association Award for Best Acting Ensemble
2011 The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo Lisbeth Salander Alliance of Women Film Journalists – Kick Ass Award For Best Female Action Star[54] (tied with Saoirse Ronan)
Internet Film Critics Society Award for Best Actress[55]
National Board of Review Breakthrough Performance[56] (shared with Felicity Jones)
Nevada Film Critics Society Award for Best Breakthrough Performance (tied with Elizabeth Olsen)
St. Louis Gateway Film Critics Association Award for Best Actress[57]
Santa Barbara International Film Festival 2012 Virtuoso Award[58]
Utah Film Critics Association Award for Best Actress[59] (runner-up)
Nominated — Academy Award for Best Actress[45]
Nominated — Alliance of Women Film Journalists Award for Best Breakthrough Performance[54]
Nominated — Denver Film Critics Society Award for Best Actress[60]
Nominated — Denver Film Critics Society Award for Best Breakout Star[60]
Nominated — Empire Award for Best Actress
Nominated — Georgia Film Critics Association Award for Best Actress
Nominated — Golden Globe Award for Best Actress – Motion Picture Drama[45]
Pending — Saturn Award for Best Actress
Pending — MTV Movie Award for Best Breakthrough Performance
Pending — MTV Movie Award for Best Performance
Pending — MTV Movie Award for Best On-Screen Transformation
2013 The Girl Who Played with Fire Lisbeth Salander Pre-production
2013 The Bitter Pill Emily Hawkins Filming

References

  1. ^ a b c d Mead, Rebecca (January 2012). "Into the Deep". Allure. pp. 103–106.
  2. ^ a b c d e f Serico, Chris (August 16, 2010). "Meet Rooney Mara, she's not just following in her sister's footsteps". The Journal News. Retrieved on August 16, 2010. [dead link]
  3. ^ Bird, David (December 24, 1980). "Notes on People; It's Goodbye for a Long-Time Greeter Mara and Rooney Clans to Gather at Wedding Rudolf Bing Speaks His Mind About the Met Former Student Musician Has a New Role Santa Gets a Helper". New York Times. Retrieved April 30, 2010. {{cite news}}: Cite has empty unknown parameter: |coauthors= (help)
  4. ^ a b c d Van Meter, Jonathan (November 2011). "Rooney Mara: Playing with Fire". Vogue. Retrieved October 17, 2011.
  5. ^ Drew, April (August 18, 2010). "Rooney Mara, the girl with the shamrock tattoo". Irish Central. Retrieved on August 18, 2010.
  6. ^ Millar, John (September 28, 2008). "Hollywood star pays tribute to Stone of Denisty nationlist". Sunday Mail. Retrieved October 10, 2010. {{cite news}}: Cite has empty unknown parameter: |coauthors= (help)
  7. ^ Rooney Mara, Kathleen (2008). "940 by Kathleen Rooney Mara". Pittsburgh in Words. Retrieved October 10, 2010. {{cite web}}: Cite has empty unknown parameter: |coauthors= (help)
  8. ^ Staple, Arthur (January 30, 2009). "Rooney Mara links NFL's two royal families". Newsday. Retrieved on January 31, 2009.
  9. ^ "Eileen Hawthorn Engaged to Wed T. J. Rooney Jr". The New York Times. November 5, 1989.
  10. ^ a b "Steelers, Giants memorabilia auctioned to help Kenyan orphans". December 11, 2008. Pittsburgh Post-Gazette. Retrieved on December 11, 2008.
  11. ^ "Bedford’s Mara To Star In ‘The Girl With The Dragon Tattoo’". CBS New York. August 17, 2010. Retrieved on August 19, 2010.
  12. ^ Dexter, Nancy (December 5, 2008). "Auction will benefit orphanage in Kenya". Bedford/Pound Ridge Record Review.
  13. ^ Pearlman, Cindy (December 15, 2011). "Rooney Mara: The girl who chased the ‘Dragon’". Chicago Sun-Times. Retrieved December 15, 2011.
  14. ^ a b c d "Summer 2009: 25 NEW FACES". Summer 2009. Filmmaker. Retrieved on July 15, 2008.
  15. ^ "Rooney Mara: Her Style Timeline". Allure. Retrieved December 15, 2011.
  16. ^ Zakarin, Jordan (December 19, 2011). "Rooney Mara: 'Law & Order: SVU' Quote Out Of Context". The Huffington Post. Retrieved December 20, 2011.
  17. ^ Patches, Matt (April 27, 2010). "The New Girl: Nightmare on Elm Street's Rooney Mara". UGO. Retrieved April 27, 2010.
  18. ^ Barnard, Linda (September 19, 2009). "Today's TIFF mini reviews". Toronto Star. Retrieved on September 21, 2008.
  19. ^ Blackerby, Jeffries (September 21, 2009). "Now Previewing | ‘Tanner Hall’". T Magazine. Retrieved on August 17, 2010.
  20. ^ Webster, Andy (September 8, 2011). "‘Tanner Hall’ Starring Rooney Mara — Review". The New York Times. Retrieved on September 14, 2011.
  21. ^ a b Davis, Peter (January 4, 2010). "Rooney Mara". Paper. Retrieved on January 10, 2010.
  22. ^ Cheney, Alexandra (December 20, 2011). "Why ‘The Girl With the Dragon Tattoo’ Stays Off Twitter". The Wall Street Journal. Retrieved on December 22, 2011.
  23. ^ a b Martin, Michael. "Rooney Mara". Interview. Retrieved on June 25, 2009.
  24. ^ Goldstein, Gregg (June 23, 2008). "'Youth in Revolt' gathers troops". The Hollywood Reporter. Retrieved on June 25, 2008.
  25. ^ Ram, Archana (August 17, 2010). "'Girl With the Dragon Tattoo' star Rooney Mara is 'exceptionally gifted,' says her 'Youth in Revolt' director". Entertainment Weekly. Retrieved on August 17, 2010.
  26. ^ Fleming, Michael (June 3, 2008). "Emmy Rossum takes indie 'Dare'". Variety. Retrieved on June 4, 2008.
  27. ^ Kernan, Kevin (December 14, 2008). "Rooney Mara's crusade for Kenyan orphans". New York Post. Retrieved on December 14, 2008.
  28. ^ Malkin, Marc (August 17, 2010). "Dragon Tattoo Girl Hooks Up With Pervy Shoe Salesman". E! Online. Retrieved on August 17, 2010.
  29. ^ Set Report: A Nightmare in Elm Street 2010
  30. ^ Vary, Adam B. (April 23, 2009). "'Nightmare on Elm Street' producers in final talks with new Nancy". Entertainment Weekly. Retrieved on April 23, 2009.
  31. ^ Kit, Borys (April 23, 2009). "'Nightmare' beginning for trio of actors". The Hollywood Reporter. Retrieved on April 23, 2009.
  32. ^ "Rooney Mara Signed on For 'Elm Street' Sequel". June 24, 2009. Bloody Disgusting. Retrieved on June 25, 2009.
  33. ^ Guzman, Rafer (September 6, 2009). "Sharon Stone to be honored at Hamptons film festival". Newsday. Retrieved on September 21, 2008.
  34. ^ Fischer, Russ (October 20, 2009). "Casting Notes: Selena Gomez in Teen Rom Com; The Social Network Gets New Kids; The Whistleblower Gets Proven Talent". /Film. Retrieved on October 20, 2009.
  35. ^ Li, David K. (August 17, 2010). "This is 'The girl with the dragon tattoo'". New York Post. Retrieved on August 17, 2010.
  36. ^ Kellogg, Carolyn (August 16, 2010). "Rooney Mara will be the girl with the dragon tattoo". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved on August 16, 2010.
  37. ^ a b Hirschberg, Lynn (February 2011). "David Fincher Gets The Girl". W. Retrieved January 13, 2011.
  38. ^ Snead, Elizabeth (December 19, 2011). "Why Rooney Mara Is Still Rocking Her 'Girl With the Dragon Tattoo' Look". The Hollywood Reporter. Retrieved December 20, 2011.
  39. ^ "Oscars Q&A: Rooney Mara On The Girl Who Would Be Lisbeth Salander". Deadline.com. February 12, 2012. Retrieved February 21, 2012.
  40. ^ Siegel, Tatiana (August 16, 2010). "'Dragon Tattoo' casting raises questions". Variety. Retrieved August 24, 2010.
  41. ^ Sperling, Nicole (August 16, 2010). "'Girl with the Dragon Tattoo' finds its Lisbeth Salander: Rooney Mara". Entertainment Weekly. Retrieved on August 16, 2010. [dead link]
  42. ^ Heisler, Steve (October 15, 2010). "Rooney Mara: Clicks in 'Social Network'". Variety. Retrieved on October 20, 2010.
  43. ^ Garron, Barry (December 5, 2011). "Mara finds comfort in being the 'Dragon' lady". Variety. Retrieved on December 11, 2011.
  44. ^ Weinstein, Joshua L. (December 13, 2011). "'Girl With the Dragon Tattoo' to Open a Day Early, to Beat the Yule Crush". Reuters. Retrieved on December 15, 2011.
  45. ^ a b c "Nominees for the 69th Golden Globe Awards". Today. Associated Press. December 15, 2011. Retrieved on December 15, 2011.
  46. ^ Lodderhose, Diana (November 1, 2011). "Bale, Blanchett to star in two Terrence Malick pics". Variety. Retrieved on November 5, 2011.
  47. ^ Jagernauth, Kevin. "Official Logline For Terrence Malick's 'Lawless' Reveals Tale Of "Sexual Obsession And Betrayal"". The Playlist. Retrieved April 16, 2012.
  48. ^ "The Bitter Pill (2013)". IMDB. Retrieved April 16, 2012.
  49. ^ Kroll, Justin. "MARA SPIKE'D ON JONZE PROJECT". Variety. Retrieved April 26, 2012.
  50. ^ Mottram, James (December 17, 2011). "Rooney Mara on reinventing Lisbeth Salander for Hollywood". Herald Scotland. Retrieved December 17, 2011.
  51. ^ "Rooney Mara – Voguepedia". Vogue. Retrieved November 15, 2011. {{cite web}}: Italic or bold markup not allowed in: |publisher= (help)
  52. ^ King, Susan (March 22, 2007). "She knows she tackled the right career". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved on December 15, 2011.
  53. ^ Tucker, Reed (January 8, 2009). "Kate and Rooney Mara Are Pigskin Princesses". New York Post. Retrieved on April 23, 2009.
  54. ^ a b "2011 EDA Awards Winners". Alliance of Women Film Journalists. Retrieved January 12, 2012.
  55. ^ http://www.hitfix.com/blogs/in-contention/posts/internet-film-critics-award-tree-of-life-midnight-in-paris-attack-the-block-drive
  56. ^ "National Board of Review of Motion Pictures :: Awards". National Board of Review of Motion Pictures. Retrieved December 2, 2011.
  57. ^ Williams, Joe (December 19, 2011). "St. Louis Film Critics toss coins to 'The Artist'". St. Louis Post-Dispatch. Retrieved December 21, 2011.
  58. ^ "Santa Barbara International Film Festival". Santa Barbara International Film Festival. Retrieved January 5, 2012.
  59. ^ Means, Sean P. (December 21, 2011). "Utah film critics pick 'Drive' as year's best". The Salt Lake Tribune. Retrieved December 27, 2011.
  60. ^ a b "'The Tree of Life,' 'The Descendants' Reign Supreme with Denver-area Film Critics". Denver Film Critics Society. Retrieved January 10, 2012.. {{cite web}}: Check date values in: |accessdate= (help)

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